Like some kind of object from the far reaches of space just plopped down in the middle of Chicago, Cloud Gate, aka The Bean, is still a sight to be seen over and over again 20-years later.
Depending on who you talk to, Cloud Gate will turn 18 or 20 years old in 2024.
Millennium Park’s grand opening happened in July of 2004. Cloud Gate, aka The Bean, was supposed to be one of the big attractions at the park, but was unfinished. The city unveiled it anyway from under the tent it was being worked on. Even with the welds from the separate pieces that make up the sculpture visible, it was still a big hit. Photo taken July or Aug. 2004.
Millennium Park’s opening July 2004
The park opened on July 15th, 2004, with fanfare and crowds. While most of the features of the park were completed, the Cloud Gate sculpture was still coming together, but was unveiled for the summer even though it still had visible welding marks that had not been buffed out yet.
The Bean would get covered back up in January of 2005 until August of 2005, when all the welds were polished. The official dedication of Cloud Gate happened in May 15, 2006.
Welds on Cloud Gate were clearly visible in 2004. photo copyright by VincentDavidJohnson.comIf you look closely today you can see a faint edge of the welds under the structure. In 2004 they were much more obvious. photo copyright by VincentDavidJohnson.comOver the years I have photographed Cloud Gate for multiple news features, like this one for a fall colors story on Oct. 16, 2022. (Photo by Vincent D. Johnson)Chicago sees its first real snowfall of the winter season, in Chicago, Saturday, January, 1st, 2022 (Vincent D. Johnson)Chicago’s Cloud Gate, aka The Bean, on a sunny late winter day, March 3, 2018. (Photo copyright Vincent D. Johnson)A woman poses as Chicago sees its first real snowfall of the winter season, in Chicago, Saturday, January, 1st, 2022 (photo by Vincent D. Johnson)
